...to be with his sick Dad

Des Bishop has been forced to cancel a run of shows after his ill father took a turn for the worse.

The comic has been touring Ireland with his poignant My Dad Was Nearly James Bond, about his father Mike – a one-time model and actor who was diagnosed with cancer a little over a year ago.

Though now resident in Dublin. Des will be flying back to his native America tomorrow to be with his dad, and has therefore cancelled his run at the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, for the rest of the week.

He wrote on Twitter that he was ‘not sure beyond then. No matter what happens I will make up the shows we postpone and will get back to scheduled gigs as soon as possible which is my Dad's wish.’

He added: ‘He is Irish enough to have felt guilty that his decline might be an inconvenience.’

Bishop Sr – who was narrowly beaten to the 007 role by George Lazenby – appeared on stage with Des during his run at the Edinburgh Fringe last year. The show was made into a documentary, which aired on RTE One last week.

Published: 1 Feb 2011